Life jacket, especially for flying personnel



LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 May 3,1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 3,248,746

LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 2 LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July2, 1964 May 3, 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 LIFE JACKET,ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 May 3, 1966 J.BERNHARDT ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Claims. {01. 9-342The present invention relates to a life jacket, especially for flyingpersonnel and, more specifically, concerns a life-saving apparatus for aperson equipped with a parachute.

It is an object of this invention to provide a life-saving apparatus fora person equipped with a parachute, which will protect such person whenfloating down toward a water surface from getting drowned.

Patented-May 3, 1966 ing bod-y are so shaped and dimensioned as tolength that below said chest wings the parachute straps are freelyaccessible. With such an arrangement, the lower edge of the chest wingwill, regardless of whether the cover for the floating body is in foldedcondition or in blown-up condition, be spaced from the hip portion ofthe wearer in I such a way that suflicient space remains for the strapsIt is another object of this invention to provide a lifesaving apparatusas set forth in the preceding 'paragraph, which will still be able tosave the life of a paratrooper if a portion of his life jacket withwhich he is equipped should be damaged during the ejection from theairplane.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a life-savingapparatus including a life jacket for a parachute equipped personjumping from an airplane over a water surface, which will make itpossible for the jumping person at a proper time to detach the parachutewhile seeing to it that his life jacket will keep him afloat.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the life-saving apparatus according to the presentinvention in folded condition as carried by a person.

FIG. 2 illustrates the life-saving apparatus according to the inventionat a time when the person carrying said apparatus is about to land onthe water.

FIG. 3 shows the person in a floating position in which the person isheld by an upper floating body of the lifesaving apparatus according tothe invention.

FIG. 4 shows a swimming position of the person carrying the life-savingapparatus according to the invention as brought about by the fact thatan upper floating body is ineffective and the person is held up only bya lower floating body.

FIG. 5 shows the person in a still different floating position as it maybe brought about by the person inflating a lower floating body.

FIG. 6 shows the fully inflated life jacket on the body of a person.

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show sections through folded portions of thelife-saving apparatus according to the present invention.

The life-saving apparatus according to the present invention, which isintended for a person equipped with a parachute and comprises a portionextending around the neck of the wearer and has two wings over the chestof the wearer, is characterized primarily in that a life jacket of theabove mentioned type comprises two superimposed floating bodies eachhaving a neck and a chest section and being inflatable to such an extentthat each of them will furnish the necessary buoyancy, while said lifejacket is so arranged on a supporting member to be connected to the bodyof the person that between the upper and lower floating bodies therewill be sufl'icient space to receive the strapping of a parachute, theupper floating body being inflatable without interference by the saidstrapping. Preferably, the chest wings of the lower floatof theparachute. The wearer can therefore connect these straps in an unimpededmanner and can easily and quickly detach them in case of danger, namelywhen the wearer is landing on the water. The disconnecting device which,with customary parachute constructions, is located ahead of the lowerchest portion, will be freely accessible.

According to a further feature of the invention, the folded-togetherlower floating body is located in a twopart cover in such a way that thefree passage of suspension straps of the parachute is not impeded.

- Inasmuch as the life-saving apparatus according to the presentinvention leaves free the back portion of its wearer, with the exceptionof the narrow neck portions of the floating body, the entire bodysurface is available for a packed parachute and, if necessary, also fora packed rubber life raft.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, FIG. 1 shows the life-savingapparatus according to the invention in folded condition ready for useand on the body of the wearer. A vest-like supporting member 1, which iscovered up in FIG. 1, but visible in FIG. 6 extends'in the manner of ahorseshoe around the neck of the wearer and has its two legs 2 (FIG. '5)located over the'chest of the wearer. The lower ends of the legs 2 aredisplaceably arranged on a hip strap 3 to the center of which a strap 4may be connected. This strap 4 extends through the crotch and over theback of the wearer up to the neck portion of the supporting member 1,FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the front portion only of strap 4.

Arranged on supporting member 1 are two inflatable floating bodies whichare arranged partly one above the other. More specifically, there is anupper floating body 5 and a lower floating body 6 which in FIGS. 5 and 6are shown in inflated condition. Each of said two floating bodiesembraces the neck of the wearer by means of a semicircular portion 7, 8and extends over the chest side of the wearer with one pair of wings 9,10 each. The

wings 9 of the upper floating body end approximately at chest level, andthe wings of the lower floating body end substantially at the level ofthe hip strap 3. The lower floating body is held at its wings 10 bymeans of short straps 12 on the supporting member 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).The way in which the floating body at the neck is held will be explainedin connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. When the envelopes of the two floatingbodies are empty, they may be folded together by folding them over thearea of the supporting member 1. They will then lie on said supportingmember 1 in fully covered condition and will be closed therein below apair of flaps of material as shown in FIG. 1 and particularly as shownin FIGS. 7 and 8. The folded-together envelopes of the lower floatingbody are, within the range of their chest wings 10, covered by a flap 14each, which are fastened to the outer end of the supporting member 1 andare connected to the latter at the remaining edges by means of snapbuttons 15 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6). When inflating the lower floating body,which may be eflected by means of a compressed air containing bottle orby means of the mouth of the wearer, the snap buttons 15 will snap openso that the flaps 14 are opened up and the envelopes of the floatingbodies are released as shown in FIG. 6. The wrapping of the twoenvelopes in their respective neck portions is illustrated on a somewhatlarger scale in FIG. 7 in a vertical section along the central plane ofthe body, whereas FIG. 8 shows the condition of the two envelopes afterinflation thereof.

The back section 21 of strap 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2) passed through the crotchis connected below the neck portion 22 of the supporting memberl. Thecovers for the two floating body envelopes are non-detachably connectedto the upper edge 23 of the neck portion 22. The cover of the lowerfloating body envelopes 24 consists of a lower section of material 25and an upper section of material 26. Both sections are connected attheir lower marginal portion by means of a folded section of material 27and are closed by a row of snap buttons 28. The cover for the neckportion of the upper floating body envelope 29 consists of two flaps 3t)and 31 which are closed at their lower marginal portion and directly bya row of snap buttons 32 (see FIG. 1). The lower flap is by means of abuckle 33 or the like guided on a loop 34 of strap 21. Loop 34 will inpacked condition of the apparatus (see FIG. 7) be located between theflaps 26 and 3t and will be rested in this position by a snap button 35on flap 30.

In this position loop 34 will remain if only the upper floating body isinfiated. The snap buttons 32 will snap open (FIG. 8) and will releaseflap 31 which will then rest between the inflated envelope 23 and theupper floating body and the neck of the wearer (see also FIGS. 2 and 6).A loop 36 will locate the envelope 29 on flap 39 which for the timebeing retains its position according to FIG. 7. Envelope 29 will bemoved to its position according to FIG. 8 only when also the upperfloating body is inflated. In this instance envelope 29 will, followingthe bursting open of snap button 35, slide with its closure member 33 tothe end of loop 34 which will thus locate the neck portion of the lowerfloating body in inflated condition thereof. Moreover, container 34 willafter the bursting open of the snap buttons 28 and stretching of thefolded fabric section 27 hold the inflated envelope 24 of the lowerfloating body and also the inflated envelope of the upper floating bodyin their rated position, thereby preventing a too steep upward tiltingof the upper floating body. The closed covers 25, 26, 27 of the envelopeof the lower floating body extends only over the neck section. Flaps 14(FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) close above the chest wings.

FIG. '1 illustrates the location or fit of the life jacket when thelatter is in condition of readiness. The supporting member with thefolded floating body envelopes covered by flaps 14 and 31 is held to thebody of the wearer by a hip strap 3 and the back crotch straps 4, 21. Inthis flat condition, the life saving apparatus will without diflicultiespermit the proper mounting of the parachute straps of standard designsand, in particular, the mounting of the straps 42 (FIG. 1) which so tospeak radiate from a closure member or buckle 41. The sections 42leading to the suspension straps 43 are located below the lower flap 30of the upper floating body and on the upper flap 26 of the chestfloating body. The straps 43 which convey the body weight extend freefrom the floating body envelopes between the covers 30 and 26 withoutimpeding each other because the supports are both firmly located only atthe inner marginal portion of the supporting member.

FIG. 2 illustrates the location and condition prior to dipping into thewater. The wearer suspended by straps 43 on the parachute has through amouth hose or by means of a compressed gas bottle inflated the envelopesof the upper floating body 5 while due to said inflation the buttons 32have snapped open and flaps 30 and 31 are opened. This operation takesplace in a manner completely unimpeded by the straps of the parachutewhich in their turn are not affected by the intended location of theinflated upper floating body 5. When the wearer with his life savingapparatus occupying the thus outlined position dips into the water, thebuoyancy of the upper floating body 5 will bring the wearer into thefloating position shown in FIG. 3 in which he is saved from drowningeven if he should be unconscious. If after the wearer of the life jackethas dipped into the water he should first occupy a position lying facedown, the buoyancy of the floating body 5 will move or turn the wearerinto the safe vertical inclined position according to FIG. 3 in whichhis breathing openings are reliably held above the water level. Sincethe parachute straps are completely free from the life jacket, thewearer is in a position to free himself from the parachute straps andthe parachute in a manner known per se by opening the closure member 41(FIGS. 1 and 2) which is easily accessible to him in view of the largefree space below the floating body wings.

FIG. 4 illustrates the condition in which the upper floating body 5 isineffective and only the lower floating body 6 is available. In view ofthe fact that the lower floating body 6 has a sufliciently great volume,it will be able alone to hold the wearer in an upright position so thathis breathing openings are held free while the wearer floats in asomewhat inclined backward position. The said lower floating body willbring the wearer automatically into this position even if he shouldfirst have occupied a position in which he is inclined somewhatforwardly.

By inflating the lower floating body 6, preferably by means of acompressed air bottle, the wearer may take advantage of an additionalbuoyancy which will lift him correspondingly higher out of the water(FIG. 5). In this way and due to the deflecting effect of the upperfloating body 5 the wearer is still further and better protected againstback water surge and the like.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular arrangement shown in the drawings butalso comprises any modifiications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. A life-saving arrangement for parachutists to land on the Water,which includes: a substantially horseshoeshaped support having a neckportion for placement around the neck of a wearer of the life-hayingarrangement and also having two leg portions for placement over theupper front body portion of a wearer of said lifesaving arrangement,means connected to said support for holding the same to the wearer ofsaid life-saving arrangement, at lower individually inflatable floatingbody having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising aneck portion and two leg portions, said support including cover meansfor covering said leg portions in non-inflated condition thereof andholding the same on said support, an upper inflatable floating bodylikewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearerof said life-saving arrangement and also having leg portions adapted tobe inflated independently of the leg portions of said lower inflatablebody and being adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearerof said life-saving arrangement afloat, and strap means forming part ofa parachute and arranged on one hand above said cover means containingthe leg portions of said lower body in non-inflated condition and on theother hand below the leg portions of the upper floating body andreleasable from an area between said upper and lower floating bodies,said upper floating body being inflatable unimpededly by said strapmeans.

2. A life jacket comprising in combination: a substantiallyhorseshoe-shaped support having a neck portion for placement around theneck of a wearer of the life jacket and also having two leg portions forplacement over the upper front body portion of a wearer of said lifejacket, means connected to said support for holding the same to thewearer of said life jacket, a lower individually inflatable floatingbody having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising aneck portion and two leg portions having a length so as to be able toextend substantially over the stomach area of said wearer of the lifejacket, said support including cover means for covering said legportions in non-inflated condition thereof and holding the same on saidsupport, and an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neckportion for placement around the neck of \a wearer of said lire jacketand also having leg portions adapted to be inflated independently or theleg portions of said lower inflatable body and being adaptedindependently or said lower body to hold a wearer of said 'life jacketafloat, the -leg portions of said upper floating body being considerablyshorter than the 'leg portions of said lower inflatable body so as to beable to extend substantially over the chest portion only of the wearerof said life jacket whereby sufiicient free space will be left betweensaid upper and said lower inflatable floating bodies to permit mountingand holding together the strap ends of a parachute harness and to permitthe unimpeded inflation of said upper floating body.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which said support comprisestwo-part cover means for receiving and covering the two leg portions ofsaid upper floating body in non-inflated condition thereof, saidtwo-part cover means being so located as to permit the tree passage ofsaid strap means.

4. A life-having arrangement for parachutists to land on the water,which includes: a substantially horseshoeshaped support having .a neckportion for placement around the neck of a wearer of the life-havingarrangement and also having two leg portions for placement over theupper front body portion of a wearer or said life-having arrangement,means connected to said support for holding the same to the wearer ofsaid llifesaving arrangement, a lower individually inflatable floatingbody having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising aneck portion and two leg portions, said support including first covermeans for covering said leg portions in non-inflated condition thereofand holding the same on said support, an upper inflatable floating bodylikewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearerof said life-having arrangement and also having -leg portions adapted tobe inflated independently of the leg portions of said lower inflatablebody and being adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearerof said life-having arrangement afloat, second cover means connected tosaid support [for covering the leg portions of said upper floating bodyin non-inflated condition thereof, said first and second cover meanscomprising snap button parts [for cooperation with corresponding snapbutton parts on said support and being adapted in response to theinflation of the respective leg portions in the respective cover meansto snap off from the respective adjacent snap button parts, and strapmeans form ing part of .a parachute and arranged on one hand above saidcover means containing the leg portions of said lower body innon-inflated condition and on the other hand below the leg portions ofthe upper floating body and releasable from an area between said upperand lower floating bodies, said upper floating body being inflatableunimpeded-1y by said strap means.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the leg portions of thelower floating body are covered by flaps connected to said support andfoldable outwardly in response to the inflation of said lower legportions, and in which the neck portion of said lower floating body iscovered by a container having a folded section adapted to open up tothereby permit said container to expand in response to an inflation ofsaid upper floating body.

ment, a lower individually inflatable floating body having a shapesimilar to that of said support and comprising a neck portion and twoleg portions, said support including first cover means for covering saidleg portions in noninflated condition thereof and holding the same onsaid support, an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neckportion for placement around the neck of a wearer of said life-savingarrangement and also having leg portions adapted to be inflatedindependently of the leg portions of said lower inflatable body andbeing adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearer of saidlife-saving arrangement afloat, second cover means connected to saidsupport for covering the leg portions of said upper floating body innon-inflated condition thereof, said first and second cover meanscomprising snap button parts for cooperation with corresponding snapbutton parts on said support and being adapted in response to theinflation of the respective leg portions in the respective cover meansto snap off from the respective adjacent snap button parts, additionalcover means for covering the neck portion of the lower floating body,said additional cover means comprising a closed container having afolded section adapted to open up in response to the inflation of saidlower floating body, first flap means arranged above said container,second flap means arranged above said first flap means and connectedthereto by snap buttons and forming with said first flap means a coverfor the neck portion of the upper floating body, and strap means formingpart of a parachute and arranged on one hand above said cover meanscontaining the leg portions of said lower body in non-inflated conditionand on the other hand below the leg portions of the upper floating bodyand releasable from an area between said upper and lower floatingbodies, said upper floating body being inflatable unimpededly by saidstrap means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, which includes parachute strapspassed between said container and said first flap means.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which said support has a backstrap with a loop, and in which said first flap means is guided insaid'loop.

9. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the cover means for theupper floating body is provided with a loop surrounding the upperfloating body in inflated condition and connected to said support.

10. A an arrangement according to claim 4, in which the cover meanscovering the neck portion of said floating bodies are connected to theupper marginal portion of the support.

References Cited by the Examiner German printed application, 1,143,412,2/1963.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. E. CORRIGAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT FOR PARACHUTISTS TO LAND ON THE WATER,WHICH INCLUDES: A SUBSTANTIALLY HORSESHOESHAPED SUPPORT HAVING A NECKPORTION FOR PLACEMENT AROUND THE NECK OF A WEARER OF THE LIFE-HAVINGARRANGEMENT AND ALSO HAVING TWO LEG PORTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OVER THEUPPER FRONT BODY PORTION OF A WEARER OF SAID LIFESAVING ARRANGEMENT,MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR HOLDING THE SAME TO THE WEARER OFSAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT, A LOWER INDIVIDUALLY INFLATABLE FLOATINGBODY HAVING A SHAPED SIMILAR TO THAT OF SAID SUPPORT AND COMPRISING ANECK PORTION AND TWO LEG PORTIONS, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING COVER MEANSFOR COVERING SAID LEG POTIONS IN NON-INFLATED CONDITION THEREOF ANDHOLDING THE SAME ON SAID SUPPORT, AN UPPER INFLATABLE FLOATING BODYLIKEWISE HAVING A NECK PORTION FOR PLACEMENT AROUND THE NECK OF A WEAREROF SAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT AND ALSO HAVING LEG PORTIONS ADAPTED TOBE INFLATED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID LOWER INFLATABLEBODY AND BEING ADAPTED INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID LOWER BODY TO HOLD A WEAREROF SAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT AFLOAT, AND STRAP MEANS FORMING PART OFA PARACHUTE AND ARRANGED ON ONE HAND ABOVE SAID COVER-MEANS CONTAININGTHE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID LOWER BODY IN NON-INFLATED CONDITION AND ON THEOTHER HAND BELOW THE LEG PORTIONS OF THE UPPER FLOATING BODY ANDRELEASABLE FROM AN AREA BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER FLOATING BODIES,SAID UPPER FLOATING BODY BEING INFLATABLE UNIMPEDEDLY BY SAID STRAPMEANS.